Penrith Golf Club would only be sold if a new golf course of equal or better standard than the current facility on The Northern Road was built in the area, its owners say.
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) and Seven Hills RSL, which owns Penrith Golf Club, have entered a Memorandum of Understanding that would see the golf course sold for $370 million with a new racing and training precinct to be built on the site.
ATC members will vote on May 27 on whether they will give the green light for the famous Rosehill Gardens racecourse to be sold for $5 billion to the State Government.
If members vote for the sale to go ahead, the ATC will push to buy Penrith Golf Club and turn it into a thoroughbred training centre with capacity for more than 300 stables, with the site also able to be used as an alternate Sydney race track.
“While these discussions are in early stages, we’re excited about the potential that benefits the racing industry, ATC and Penrith Golf Club Members, and the local community,” said ATC Chairman Peter McGauran.
“Penrith is one of the fastest growing population centres in NSW and ticks all the boxes in playing a key role for the next generation of racing.
“Our priority is to expand and enhance quality infrastructure for trainers and owners, who would be central to the design of a new facility.”
But the Weekender can reveal any sale would be subject to a number of conditions, including the construction of a brand new golf course in the Penrith area.
In addition, the ATC would have to demonstrate the benefits of the move to the City of Penrith and what the future may look like.
This would include the benefits such as employment, tourism numbers, entertainment and the like.
Should a sale occur, Penrith Golf Club would remain in operation until the end of 2029 before moving to a new site.
A letter was sent to Penrith Golf Club members at 1am on Sunday morning, ahead of News Corp papers breaking the story later that day.
Members say this was the first they knew of the potential sale.
One member, who asked not to be named, told the Weekender better communication would have been preferred.
“It was completely out of the blue,” he said.
“I find it very strange, but Seven Hills are a commercial enterprise and if all the conditions are ripe… they can do what they like with it.”
The member said Seven Hills RSL had invested heavily in the club and course in recent times and it would be disappointing to see it go.
“They have put a lot of money into the course. They’ve renovated the clubhouse, they’ve done lots of renovations on the course itself and they’ve put concrete pathways through the course, plus extra dams.
“I’d be be disappointed if it happened. It’s more of a shock that they didn’t tell us. They obviously have known about this for some time, you don’t have a Memorandum of Understanding without some discussions over a period of time.
“We would have liked to have known this was in the wind before it hits the papers.”
In its letter to members, sighted by the Weekender, the Seven Hills RSL Board said it was entering into discussions given the involvement of the NSW Government and its desire to create more housing in Sydney.
“The Board asks the Members to understand that these discussions are at a preliminary stage only and many pieces would need to fall into place before any future sale may occur,” it said.
Glenmore Park local Nadine Chilvers is among those concerned about the potential development, particularly given the impact it would likely have on traffic on The Northern Road.
“Getting in and out of Glenmore Park is a nightmare at the best of times and I just think putting in such a significant piece of infrastructure, whilst hugely beneficial to the region and to the Penrith area, without appropriate consideration and thought around egress for Glenmore Park residents in particular is just really narrow-sighted,” she said.
“It just doesn’t seem like a great location because it is so land-locked in terms of accessibility.”
ATC members have been presented with detailed information around the proposed sale of Rosehill to the NSW Government, including the ATC’s plans around improvements to Royal Randwick, major changes to Warwick Farm racecourse and a redevelopment of Canterbury Park.
“Many Members love Rosehill Gardens and are reluctant to see it go but the truth is it’s an outdated venue with declining crowds and this proposal can rejuvenate and secure the racing industry for many generations to come,” McGauran said.
As for Penrith Golf Club members, they will now watch the result of the May 27 vote with interest – now suddenly directly involved with its outcome.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.